Brenna
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
I just have a question about the sacred animals. What would you say is the real-world example of the "great green bird" used to represent the Mother of Summer? And what is a dog-fox for the Son of Autumn? Fictional animal or their-world name for an our-world animal? What qualities of birds do you personally see as representing the feminine (blue jay, green bird) and canids for the masculine? Thanks :)
Lois McMaster Bujold
The 5GU is not our world, so I can have them eating potatoes if I want, I just haven't so far. I have so far also resisted "mahogany" for the typical skin color of Cedonians, although it's the perfect term. So my "great green bird" is probably some sort of parrot.
A dog-fox is actually an our-world term; it just means a male fox. As contrasted with a vixen, a female fox.
The sex, not the species, of the animal is usually matched with the supposed gender of the god/ess. So one might well have a male gray parrot for the Father sometime. Color coded where possible -- if they can obtain something close or evocative.
And if the local temple can't afford those fancy flourishes, five kittens with different colored ribbons around their necks can also do the job. It's apparent from the results that the gods aren't fussy.
Ta, L.
The 5GU is not our world, so I can have them eating potatoes if I want, I just haven't so far. I have so far also resisted "mahogany" for the typical skin color of Cedonians, although it's the perfect term. So my "great green bird" is probably some sort of parrot.
A dog-fox is actually an our-world term; it just means a male fox. As contrasted with a vixen, a female fox.
The sex, not the species, of the animal is usually matched with the supposed gender of the god/ess. So one might well have a male gray parrot for the Father sometime. Color coded where possible -- if they can obtain something close or evocative.
And if the local temple can't afford those fancy flourishes, five kittens with different colored ribbons around their necks can also do the job. It's apparent from the results that the gods aren't fussy.
Ta, L.
More Answered Questions
S Wright
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
Having read and re-read all your works that I can find through many stages of my life I continue to identify with all your depictions of motherhood, both internal and external. Currently my oldest is on the cusp of adulthood, and although I see external descriptions of this stage of parenting, I've searched and not found the internal depiction I'm craving. Have you any plans from this POV?
CY
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
One thing I value very much in books is if they make me laugh or smile, but I'm very rarely amused by the overtly comic. Perhaps one of the reasons I love your books so much is that they can be deeply insightful to comic. So ... I am in need of something to cheer me up. Can you recommend anything? Books by preference, but movies okay too. Thanks!
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